Modular energy control system

• US 8,103,389 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Inventors: Golden, Brian, Lewis, Karl, Corsell, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US11/436,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291, 700/286, 700/295
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A wireless base unit communicates with one or more wireless load manager units to receive power measurements for one or more loads connected to the wireless load manager. In response to dynamic variables, such as the changing price of electricity, the wireless base unit transmits commands to the wireless load manager to shut off or reduce power consumed by the one or more loads. In one variation, a wireless adapter also receives commands from the wireless base unit and converts the commands into a vendor-specific format used to control other devices such as a photovoltaic (PV) inverter.

Claims

1. A base unit comprising a processor, memory, and a wireless transceiver, the processor and memory programmed to:

receive from the wireless transceiver measurements from a wireless energy control unit indicating electricity used by one or more loads coupled to the wireless energy control unit;

determine a baseline demand forecast, using the measurements, for energy usage by the one or more loads coupled to the wireless energy control unit;

determine a baseline production forecast for at least one energy source capable of supplying electrical power to the one or more loads coupled to the wireless energy control unit;

make control decisions based on the baseline demand forecast and the baseline production forecast, wherein the baseline demand forecast and the baseline production forecast are calculated based on an optimal strategy, wherein the calculated baseline demand forecast and the calculated baseline production forecast provide a calculated estimate of expected value of power during a forecast period; and

transmit through the wireless transceiver one or more commands to the wireless energy control unit to remove or reduce electrical power to the one or more loads coupled to the wireless energy control unit.

2. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control decisions are based on a dynamic cost of electricity.

3. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control decisions are based on a storage charge on one or more storage devices.

4. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control decisions are based on availability of alternative non-grid sources of electricity.

5. The base unit of claim 4, wherein the control decisions are based on availability of solar power available from one or more solar panels.

6. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the control decisions are based on the measurements received from the wireless energy control unit.

7. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to wirelessly receive the measurements from and wirelessly transmit the one or more commands to a plurality of energy control units each coupled to different loads.

8. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to wirelessly transmit commands to a photovoltaic (PV) inverter that converts DC current produced by a solar panel into AC current that is available to supply current to the one or more loads coupled to the wireless energy control unit.

9. The base unit of claim 8, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to wirelessly transmit the commands to a wireless adapter that receives the commands, converts them into a different protocol, and controls the PV inverter based on the different protocol.

10. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to wirelessly receive a temperature measurement from a wireless thermostat and transmit commands to the wireless thermostat to change a temperature setting.

11. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to wirelessly receive data from a wireless power meter that measures power used by devices located in a building.

12. The base unit of claim 11, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to wirelessly receive from the wireless power meter a variable cost of electricity.

13. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to sell excess electricity back to a utility company'"'"'s grid based on the control decisions.

14. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to provide a user interface to an externally-coupled computer, wherein the user interface permits a user to configure settings used by the base unit used in making the control decisions.

15. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are programmed to defer power consumption by the one or more loads to a later time.

16. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the measurements comprise power measurements including voltage, amperage, and power factor.

17. A wireless load manager comprising a processor, memory, and a wireless transceiver, the processor and memory programmed to:

transmit, through the wireless transceiver to a wireless base unit, measurements from one or more loads coupled to the wireless load manager indicating an amount of electricity presently consumed by the one or more loads, wherein the wireless base unit is configured to use the measurements to determine a baseline demand forecast for energy usage by the one or more loads;

receive, through the wireless transceiver, one or more commands from the wireless base unit indicating that power should be removed or reduced to one or more loads coupled to the wireless load manager, wherein the one or more commands implement control decisions made by the wireless base unit based on the baseline demand forecast and a baseline production forecast, wherein the baseline demand forecast and the baseline production forecast are calculated based on an optimal strategy, wherein the calculated baseline demand forecast and the calculated baseline production forecast provide a calculated estimate of expected value of power during a forecast period; and

in response to the one or more commands, remove or reduce power to the one or more loads.

18. The wireless load manager of claim 17, wherein the measurements comprise voltage, amperage, and power factor.

19. The wireless load manager of claim 17, further comprising one or more current transducers that measure power used by the one or more loads coupled to the wireless load manager.

20. The wireless load manager of claim 17, further comprising one or more relays for removing power to the one or more loads.

21. The wireless load manager of claim 17, wherein the measurements transmitted to the base unit include a transducer index that correlates the transducer with a particular load.

22. A kit comprising in combination:

a wireless base unit comprising a first processor, first memory, and a first wireless transceiver, the first processor and first memory programmed to receive from the first wireless transceiver measurements indicating electricity used by one or more loads;

determine a baseline demand forecast, using the measurements, for energy used by the one or more loads;

determine a baseline production forecast for at least one energy source capable of supplying electrical power to the one or more loads;

make control decisions based on the baseline demand forecast and the baseline production forecast, wherein the baseline demand forecast and the baseline production forecast are calculated based on an optimal strategy, wherein the calculated baseline demand forecast and the calculated baseline production forecast provide a calculated estimate of expected value of power during a forecast period; and

transmit through the first wireless transceiver one or more commands to remove or reduce electrical power to the one or more loads; and

a wireless load manager comprising a second processor, second memory, and a second wireless transceiver, the second processor and second memory programmed to transmit, through the second wireless transceiver to the wireless base unit, measurements from one or more loads coupled to the wireless load manager indicating an amount of electricity presently consumed by the one or more loads;

receive, through the second wireless transceiver, one or more commands from the wireless base unit indicating that power should be removed or reduced to one or more loads coupled to the wireless load manager; and

in response to the one or more commands, remove or reduce power to the one or more loads.

23. The kit of claim 22, wherein the control decisions are based on a dynamic cost of electricity.

24. The kit of claim 22, wherein the control decisions are based on a storage charge on one or more storage devices.

25. The kit of claim 22, wherein the control decisions are based on availability of alternative non-grid sources of electricity.

26. The kit of claim 22 additionally comprising:

a third processor, a third memory, and a third wireless transceiver, the processor and memory programmed to;

receive from the third wireless transceiver one or more commands received from the wireless base unit indicating at least one inverter setting associated with an inverter that inverts DC current produced by a solar panel into AC current used by loads that are controlled by the wireless base unit; and

cause a setting on the inverter to be changed in accordance with the received one or more commands.

27. The kit of claim 26, wherein the third processor and the third memory are programmed to convert the one or more commands from a first protocol specific to the base unit to a second protocol specific to the inverter.

28. The kit of claim 26, wherein the wherein the third processor and the third memory are programmed to receive a measurement indicating electricity available from one or more solar panels and to wirelessly transmit the measurement to the base unit through the wireless transceiver.